419 scam: "Mr. James Steve" <eduone@yahoo.cn> PICK UP YOUR FISRT PAYMENT #0958502084

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22968020955 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- westernunionoffice007@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. James Steve" <eduone@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: westernunionoffice926@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:07:07 +0800 (CST)
Subject: PICK UP YOUR FISRT PAYMENT #0958502084

WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER
WORLDWIDE:

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER. COTONOU
Email: (westernunionoffice007@yahoo.com.hk)
Tel:+229-68 02 09 55,
YOUR COMPENSATION$950,000.00.

Attention Please.

Breaking
News jaun 2013,This is to inform you that the higher authorities that
is in-charge of international transaction has this morning
declared that you will receive your $950,000.00Usd United States Dollars)
through Western Union Money Transfer Only as compensation
for your past effort here in Benin Republic.

So the arrangement has been
made this morning and the Federal High Court Of Justice has signed your Western
Union Transfer Papers and the only money you will pay is US$70.00 . for the
signing of it which means your transfer will start tomorrow morning.

The
daily transfer of your fund is US$5000.00 per day until your total US$950,000.00
United States Dollars) is completely transferred to
you.

I am here to swear to you that your first payment of the US$5000.00
daily transfer will be on its way today or latest tomorrow
morning once we confirm the US$70.00 from you which is for the Federal High
Court Of Justice Benin Republic signing of your Western Union Transfer
Papers.To show you the truth.

Below is the First transfer payment
details which has been insert into our computer.

SENDER NAME; HOMER
PIES
Amount......$5000.00
Text
Question....GOD
Answer.....BLESS
Mtcn
Number;==0958502084
then we want you to click western union
tracking link
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderResults.asp?country=global and
click tracking and pest sender's first name and last name,the you pest mtcn
number and click check status to see that your first transfer of US$5,000.00 is
available for you but you will not pick it until you pay the needed US$70.00
for the signing of your Western Union Transfer Papers by the Federal High Court
Benin Republic.

So we are here giving you this Western Union Payment
Information for you to send the US$30.00 immediately and your first transfer of
the US$5000.00 will be on its way after we pick the
US$70.00;

COUNTRY....BENIN REPUBLIC
STATE..COTONOU
SENDER'S
NAME....
RECEIVER'S NAME: MR.Athony Udealor
TEXT QUESTION...blue
ANSWER....blue
AMOUNT NEEDED..... US$70
MTCN
NUMBER..............................

We wait for your mail with the
US$30.00 from you and be rest assured that you will receive your total
compensation of $950,000.00Usd from us because this is General Western Union
Head Office here in Benin Republic.

Finally you are advise to stop
emailing any office or department here in Benin Republic until you receive your
full compensation from us,this is for your security.

>From Western Union
Money Transfer Head Office Benin Republic Manager Mr. James Steve .Call us with this line....+229-68 02 09 55

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam